Carrier rod operating mechanism



Sept. 15, 1936. w. HUG

CARRIER ROD OPERATING MECHANISM Filed Nov. 10, 1954 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 mumm Hug Sept. 15, 1936. w. HUG

CARRIER ROD OPERATING MECHANISM Filed Nov. 10, 1934 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. W i l l 1 a m H u 9 BY v ATTORNEY,

Sept. 15, 1936. w. HUG

CARRIER ROD OPERATING MECHANISM Filed Nov, 10, 1934 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR.

mm kg ATTORN iii Patented Sept. 15, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CARRIER ROD OPERATING MECHANISM 15 Claims.

This invention relates to mechanism for operating the carrier rods of a fiat knitting machine.

One of its objects is the elimination of the usual friction box drive and the substitution therefor of a drive which operated more positiveiv, with less vibration, shock and wear, and makes possible the elimination of some of themany attachments with which the modern fiat knitting machine .is encumbered.

The invention also makes it possible to obtain the highly important condition of a uniform lead of any desired length between the thread carriers and thet-sinkers, irrespective of varying width of fabric or the operation being performed This is of particular value in plating when it is essential that one thread should be laid exactly over another thread. requires a very short and uniform lead for perfect work impossible of ate tainment with the standard friction drive.

The invention also eliminates the danger of carrier rod rebound at the end of each working stroke since means is provided for holding the Working rods resiliently but definitely in correct position against their stops.

The invention may be applied to a standard knitting machine with no alterations whatever, except to the friction rod. The rod itself may be used with a simple and inexpensive addition One form of the invention which has been selected for the purposes of explanation herein and without the intention of limiting the invention thereto in anyway,'is disclosed by the accompanying drawings, in which 7 t Figure l is a general diagrammatic plan view Y of a number of carrier rods and their operating mechanisms;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the operating mechanism of one canier rod;

Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the of Fig. 2 looking from left to right;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the mechanism of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a front elevation partly in section of the mechanism of Fig. 2 showing the positions assumed by the parts at the end of the drive rod stroke to the left;

Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic view showing the positions which may be assumed by the drive rod notches and drive blocks during narrowing;

Fig. 7 is a diagrammatic View of the carrier rod latches and a means tor operating them automatically.

The knitting machine is "provided with the usual reciprccable carrier rods, five of which .I, 2, .3, 4 and 5 are shown in Fig. 1., and the usual mechanism friction rod 6 from which the friction boxes have been removed. Because of the elimination of the friction devices the rod will be called drive. rod

6 to avoid confusion.- Drive rod 6 may be connected to the usual coulier motion. The driving 5 connections form no part of the present invention and, hence, are merely indicated by the reciprocating lever I. As is well known, lever I is customarily utilized'to reciprocate both the drive rod 6 and the slur cock bar (not shown). If desired, and preferably, two separate levers of this character operated from two separate coulier cams may be utilized as shown in my copending application Serial No. 698,080 filed November 15, .1933. This latter arrangement provides inde- 1-5 pendent control of the thread laying and loop forming mechanisms.

'Slidably mounted upon drive rod 6 is a carrier rod finger block 8 which is provided with a. finger 9 engaged with carrier rod I in such a way that reciprocation of finger block 8 will be imparted to carrier rod I. This engagement may be effected, for example, by means of blocks I0 and II attached to carrier rod I and spaced apart sufiiciently to permit finger 9 to fit between them preferably with a small clearance. Carrier rods are usually-provided with :such blocks.

On either side of finger block 8 and also slidably mounted upon drive rod 6 .are two drive blocks I2 and I3. These are normally held in contact with finger block 8 by an extension spring I4 or other suitable means which will permit the blocks to separate at certain times, as will be explained later. Blocks I2, 8 and I3 are maintained in alignment and prevented from turning upon drive rod 6 by a guide rod i which passes through suitable bearings 6 in each block.

The object of drive blocks l2 and I3 is to drive finger block 8 and, consequently, carrier rod I to the right or left respectively, the distances required for the laying of the thread. Since drive blocks I2 and I3 are slidably mounted on drive .rod 6 driving connections between the drive rod and the blocks are required. As shown, these are provided by two notches I6 and I1 cut into drive rod 6. Notch l6 is provided with a driving face I8 facing to the left, and a cam surface I9 sloping upwardly to the surface of rod 6. Notch I1 is of similar form but faces in the opposite direction, its driving face being at 20 and its cam surface at 2|. Communicating with the interior of each of blocks I2 and I3 and registerable with notches I6 and I1 is an opening 25 in which drive dogs-26 and 21 respectively, are freely slidable. The lower-end of drive dog .26 is so shaped or on its side 28 as to parallel the driving face IB of notch I6, its end 29 being beveled to correspond with the contour of cam surface I9 of notch I6. Drive dog 21 in block I3 is similarly shaped but in the reverse direction, corresponding with notch I1. That is to say, its face 36 which opposes the driving face 26 of notch I1 faces to the right,

whereas its cam surface 3| slopes downwardly to the left corresponding to the cam surface 2I of notch I1.

It will be evident that when drive rod 6 is reciprocated to the left drive dog 26 will pass into notch I6 and driving face I8 of notch I6 will engage with drive dog 26 with the result that drive block I2 will be carried along with drive rod 6 (see Fig. 2). The entry of drive dog 26 into notch I6 is insured by a spring 26 Since drive block I3 is urged towards drive block I2 by spring I4 with finger block 8 held between the two drive blocks, it will also be evident that if spring I4 is of sufficient strength to overcome, without expanding, the resistance of carrier rod I, finger block 8 and drive block I3, carrier'rod I will also be caused to reciprocate simultaneously with drive rod 6. During this operation notch I1 may lie to the right of drive dog 21 as shown in Fig. 2. Since notch I1 is the means for driving the carrier rod in the opposite direction through engagement with drive dog 21 it is necessary that the drive rod shall continue its travel, after the carrier rod has stopped, a sufficient distance to permit notch I1 to pass' under drive dog 21 so that its driving face 23 is in a position to engage with side 30 of drive dog 21. This also is made possible by the elastic connection between drive blocks I2 and I3 provided by spring I4 (see Fig. 2). When drive rod 6. continues to move to the left carrying drive block I2 with it, finger block 8 and the other drive block I3 are held stationary by carrier rod I which rests against its left end stop 32. Notch I1, therefore, passes to the other side of drive dog 21, the dog automatically dropping into and rising out of notch I1, the inward motion being insured by spring. 21 Drive dog 26 is also automatically lifted by means, which will hereinafter be described, sufficiently to release it from notch I6 as shown in Fig. 5, and drive block I2 will then snap back under the action of'spring I4,'drive dog 26 moving along with it, leaving notch I6 to its left. The driving mechanism is then in condition to drive the carrier rod I in the opposite direction.

' 'When drive rod 6 is driven to the right the driving face 26 of notch I1 will engage with drive dog 21 and drive block I3 will be positively driven along with the drive rod. Through the spring connection, drive block I2 will be similarly moved and also carrier rod I through the agency of finger block 8 which is held between drive blocks I2 and I3 and must, of necessity, travel with them. At the end of this stroke to the right when carrier rod I hits its right end stop 33 drive block I3 will continue to travelwith drive rod 6 until notch I6 has passed to the other side of drive dog 26 whereupon if drive dog 29 is raised out of engagement with notch I1 block I3 will snap back, under the action of spring I4, against finger block 8 reestablishing the conditions required for the next stroke to the left as shown in Fig. 2.

One suitable means of automatically operating drive dogs 26 and 21 as above described, consists of cam blocks 34 and 35 slidably mounted on drive blocks I2 and I3 respectively, as in guides 34 and 35 tothe left and right respectively, of drive dogs 26 and 21, cam block 34 being connected to finger block 8 by a rod 31 and cam block 35 being connected to finger block 8 by a rod 31. Cam blocks 34 and 35 are provided with cam surfaces 38 and 39 respectively, sloping downwardly and towards each other and are designed to engage laterally extending pins 40 and II respectively in drive dogs 26 and 21 and to raise the latter sufficiently to release them from notches I6 and I1. The release of one or the other of the drive dogs will occur just after the carrier rod I strikes a stop, irrespective of the length of its stroke. At the end of a carrier rod stroke to the left the continuing travel of drive rod 6 and drive block I2 will increase the separation between drive blocks I2 and I3. This will draw cam 38 under pin 40 to raise drive dog 26 disengaging it from notch I6 (see Fig. As already explained, notch I1 will then have moved from the right .to the left or driving side of drive dog 21. Upon completion of the following stroke of the carrier rod to the right drive dog 21 is disengaged from notch I1 in a similar manner by the action of cam 39 upon drive dog 21 when drive block I3 moves away from blocks 8 and I2 which have come to rest with the carrier rod I.

Since notches I6 and I1 can pass entirely through drive blocks I2 and I3 and finger block 8 whenever drive dogs 26 and 21 are raised, and since earns 38 and 39 act. to raise these drive dogs when a definite amount of separation between drive blocks I2 and I3 has occurred it will be seen that irrespective of whether the carrier rod is traveling over its full distance or some shorter distance, as when narrowing for example, exactly the same conditions are imposed upon the driving mechanism at all times. During the latter stages of the narrowing when the fabric is reaching its least width the additional travel of drive rod 6 over that of carrier rod I may be so great that notches I6 and I1 will not only pass from one side to the other of the respective driving dogs 26 and 21 but both may pass to the right or left of both of these driving dogs as will be evident from Fig. 6. The respective shapes of the notches I6 and I1 and the driving dogs are such, it will be noted, that each will readily pass in both directions under the dog with which it has no carrier rod operating relation. Therefore, except during the actual carrier rod operating period of each stroke the machine is relieved of the strain ordinarily imposed by carrier rod mechanisms of the friction type. Also the amount of expansion required of spring I4 is always small and always the same regardless of the width of the fabric.

In this description it has been assumed up to this point that drive blocks I2 and I3 and finger block 8 are normally in actual contact. As a matter of fact, it is desirable to provide an adjustment between finger block 8 and each of drive blocks I2 and I3, in order that the relative position of carrier rod I can be changed so that the lead of the carrier over the action of the sinkers can be varied when desired, as, for example, when plating is being done. This adjustment may take the form of simple stops-42 and 42 threaded into drive blocks I2 and I3 or, if desired, into opposite sides of finger block 8, each stop being provided with a set nut 43 By adjusting these stops the position of finger block 8 between drive blocks I2 and I3 may be varied and, consequently, the position of carrier rod I in its relation to the operation of the sinkers. That is to say, the lead can be made longer or shorter in this way.

An equivalent adjustment is provided for cams 34 and 35. Rods 31 and 31 may for this purpose 2,054,700 be threaded into finger block 8 their other :ends

being rotatably held in drive blocks l2 and 43 respectively by collars 43 and 44. By this arrangement rods 31 and 37' can be screwed in or out to vary the position of cams 34 and 35 and, when adjusted, may be locked by lock nuts 45. 7

It has heretofore been assumed also that when drive block 12 or i3 is released from drive rod 6 by the lifting of drive dog 26 or 2?! as the case may be, the block I 2 or 3 snaps back against finger block 8 without restraint. This may be permitted but, obviously, considerable shock and wear will be removed from the driving mechanism and a smoother carrier rod, actionsecured if the snap back action is cushioned. To this end there may be provided a shock absorber or cushioning device, the form shown consisting of a piston 46 with its stem 41 threaded into block-l 2 and its head 48 sliding in cylinder 48 in finger block 8 which is provided at its inner closed end with a vent 50. When drive block '8 is released from drive rod 6 the latter part of its return motion towards its companion block I3 under the urge of spring M will be retarded and cushioned by compression of the air in cylinder 49. Since the snap back action is .sudden, vent 50 may be of sufficient size to permit block 12 to make contact with block 8 in the brief interval between the end of the :stroke and the beginning of the next without impairing the desired cushioning efiect and also to offer inconsequential resistance to the separation of blocks l2 and 8 at the end of the stroke, particularly if the piston head is a rather .loose fit in cylinder 49 or is provided with an ordinary leather, as shown, which .on the outstroke will permit of considerable leakage past the piston head. A similar shock absorber is, of course, provided between drive block I 3 and finger block 8. This. is generally designated by the numeral 5| and is identical with the other shock'absorber already described but works in the opposite direction.

Carrier rod operating mechanisms similar to that described above may be provided for each of the other carrier rods and may be distributed in convenient places along drive rod 6. Each functions, .as described, to operate its particular carrier rod.

Since for knitting some types of fabric, three thread ringless fabric for example, several carrier rods are employed in rotation and are, there- .fore, in operating position and since these mechanisms would operate all of these rods simultaneously unless otherwise prevented, means is provided for holding stationary the momentarily idle carrier rods against the tendency of these devices to move them. The narrowing mechanism of a standard flat knitting machine upon which the carrier rod end stops are maintained is usually equipped with two sets of latches 52, two for each rod, by means of which the idle rods are definitely locked again-st displacement from jar or interference between thread carriers. In the present invention the same or similar latches may be utilized. For example, if it is assumed as in Fig, 1 that carrier rod l is in operation, all of the other working carrier rods may be locked against their end stops by the latches. When drive rod 6 moves to reciprocate carrier rod I, say to the left, the other carrier rod driving mechanisms will also tend to similarly move the other carrier rods. However, since the rods other than rod I cannot move because of the engagement of the latches 52, finger blocks 8 of their driving mechanisms will remain stationary. This will aisoprevent movement oi the equivalent drive blocks l3. .Drive blocks l2, however, will be carried along with drive rod 6 because of the engagement of notches Hi with drive dogs 2.6 until cams 38 have lifted drive dogs 26, as already described, to disengage them from notches 16. Then the drive rod 6 is free to travel, the associated driving mechanisms remaining behind with the exception of that engaged in driving working carrier rod L In other words, the drivirrg mechanisxnmay operate in exactly the same 'way with respect to such idle rods at the beginning of a'xstroke as it does with respect to working carrier rods at the end of a stroke, one or the other of drive blocks 12 and I3 moving awayffrom the other drive block and the interposed finger block 8 until its drive dog 26 or 21 respectively, has been raised to tree it from the notch and to release the drive block from the drive rod 6.

Latches 52 are usnaliy manually controlled but may be automatically operated, if desired, for example, as shown in Fig. 7 by means of a pattern -drum 59 mounted on the narrowing head and provided buttons 60 for individually engaging each latch at the desired time to disengage it from its carrier rod. The usual handle of each latch is replaced by a suitable arm 6| with which the proper button 60 will engage. The pattern drum'may be'rotated by the usual means, such as a pawl and ratchet, operated from a pattern chain.

Each carrier rod is provided with a detent '62 which, when latch 52 is down, will be engaged by the latch when the carrier rod strikes its end stop as shown in full line in Fig. 7 with. respect to carrier rod I. Rotation of pattern drum 59 will cause a button 69 to pass under the end of arm Ii-l rocking it and disengaging latch 52 from detent freeing the carrier rod. Thus the carrier rods may be automatically released in any order and timing desired.

As to those carrier rods which are not being employed :at all in a particular knitting operation it is customary to raise their end stops and slide them entirely out of the knitting field as shown with respect to-carrier rod I by dotted lines in Fig. 7. This may move drive blocks l2 and I3 outof range of notches l6 and H, but it is desirable, nevertheless, to lock these carrier rods against accidental displacement. This is provided :for by an additional setof detents 63, two for each carrier rod, which may also be engaged by latches 52 under the above conditions. The bottoms of detents 63 are raised above those of detents 62 sufficiently that when latches 52 are engaged with them,'arms 6| will be separated from pattern drum 59 so as to clear buttons 60. This will permit the pattern drum to perform its functions with respect to working carrier rods without affecting the locked condition of idle rods.

Such idle carrier rods may also be disengaged from their driving mechanisms by means which will maintain driving dogs 26 and 27 in raised position and, consequently, out of engagement with drive rod 6. One such means is shown as a wedge 53 vslidably mounted on drive block I 2 so as to be engageable with an extension 54 of pin to .liftand hold drive dog 26 out of engagement with notch 16 .or drive rod 6 whenever the wedge is slid to the left. A handle for manual operation-of wedge 53 is shown at 55. Drive block I3 is similarly equipped with a sliding wedge 56 engageable with an extension 51 of pin 4| to raise drive dog 21 and manually operable by handle 58. With both drive dogs lifted by these wedges the reciprocation of drive rod is completely disconnected from the carrier rods and they impose no burden upon the machine.

To illustrate in a more consecutive manner the capabilities of this carrier rod driving mechanism and the way in which it functions, assume that an ordinary full fashioned single thread stocking is being knit. For the knitting of the upper leg portion which is of maximum and uniform width a single thread carrier may be employed and a single carrier rod driving unit, such as has been sufliciently described. When the narrowed secticn of the leg has been reached there is no change in carrier rod operation other than the usual reduction in the distance of travel controlled in the usual way by the usual mechanism. The carrier rod driving mechanism continues to function in the same way as before although the notches l6 and I1 will, of course, move an increasing distance as compared with the movement of the carrier rod finger block 8 and drive blocks l2 and I3 until both notches may perhaps pass entirely through all three of the blocks l2, 8 and 13 as the narrowest part of the fabric is knit.

When the heel tabs are reached and the necessity for reenforcement occurs other carrier rods for the reenforcing thread carriers will be brought into play simply by raising the proper latches 52 which have theretofore locked these hitherto idle carrier rods against the tendency of their driving mechanisms to reciprocate them and by releasing wedges 53 and 56 to release the drive dogs 25 and 21 if these wedges are employed. The extent of travel of the reenforcing carriers may be controlled by the usual mechanism for that purpose. In all of these operations the driving mechanism for each carrier rod functions in an identical manner and irrespective of whether the carrier rodsare driven over the maximum distance represented by the upper leg in the stocking or the very short distance represented by a. heel tab, and the carrier rod driving strain is imposed upon the machine only during the period actually required to reciprocate the rods and not throughout the remainder of the drive rod stroke and is limited to the working rods.

When plating is to be done the extremely short lead required for this very precise operation is readily obtained by the adjustment between drive blocks i2 and I3 and finger block 8, by means of which the lead of the thread carriers with respect to the sinkers can be made as long or as short as desired. Also, if the slur cocks and carrier rods are driven from independent coulier cams through separate levers as suggested, the lead may be maintained with absolute uniformity at the desired amount, not only during plating when it is essential for perfect work but, also, during all other periods of the knitting when it is extremely desirable if not as essential.

The above description of characteristic steps which occur during the knitting of a full fashioned stocking will be suflicient to illustrate the versatility of the device and its applicability to other carrier rod operating requirements Earlier in this description brief reference was made to the desirability of leaving a small clearance between finger 9 and the blocks in and II on the carrier rod between which it rests. The object of this clearance is simply to isolate the carrier rod from any slight disturbance or displacement which may be imposed upon the finger 9 by the snapping back of one or the other of drive blocks [2 or l3 under the action of spring M, or by any slight movement of drive rod 6 when the carrier rod is supposed to be at rest.

If desired notches l6 and I1 in drive rod 5 may be supplanted by equivalent keys. Since these would project radially from drive rod 6 blocks 12, 8 and i3 would also require modification by the provision of corresponding radial keyways through which the keys might pass. The functioning of this modified form is substantially identical to that already fully covered and requires no detailed description.

I claim:

l. Mechanism for reciprocating a carrier rod of a fiat knitting machine comprising means loosely mounted on a drive rod and connected to said carrier rod, means on said drive rod positioned at each side of said loosely mounted means which cooperate to reciprocate said loosely mounted means in either direction concurrently with the reciprocation of thedrive rod, means for locking one of said cooperating means to said drive rod during the reciprocation of the drive rod in one direction, and means for locking the other of said cooperating means to said drive rod during the reciprocation of the drive rod in the other direction.

2. Mechanism for reciprocating a carrier rod of a flat knitting machine comprising means loosely mounted on a reciprocable drive rod and connected to said carrier rod, means on said drive rod positioned at each side of said loosely mounted means which cooperate to reciprocate said loosely mounted means in either direction concurrently with the reciprocation of the drive rod, means for locking one of said cooperating means to said drive rod during the reciprocation of the drive rod in one direction, means for locking the other of said cooperating means to said drive rod during the reciprocation of the drive rod in the other direction, and means for unlocking said locked cooperating means from said drive rod at the end of the drive rod reciprocation.

3. Mechanism for reciprocating a carrier rod of a fiat knitting machine comprising a reciprocable drive rod, three blocks loosely mounted thereon the middle one of which is connected to a carrier rod, means for maintaining the three blocks in engagement during the reciprocation of the carrier rod, and means for reciprocating said blocks as a unit with said drive rod during the reciprocation of the carrier rod.

4. Mechanism for reciprocating a carrier rod of a flat knitting machine comprising a reciprocable drive'rod, three blocks loosely mounted thereon the middle one of which is connected to a carrier rod, means for resiliently maintaining the three blocks in engagement during the reciprocation of the carrier rod, and means for reciprocating said blocks as a unit with said drive rod during the reciprocation of the carrier rod.

5. Mechanism for reciprocating a carrier rod of a fiat knitting machine comprising a reciprccable drive rod, two drive blocksloosely mounted on said drive rod, resilient means for urging said drive blocks towards each other, a third block slidable on said drive rod positioned between said drive blocks and connected to said carrier rod, means when said drive rod is reciprocated in one direction for locking the leading drive block thereto, and means when said drive rod is reciprocated in the other direction for locking the then leading drive block thereto.

'6. Mechanism for reciprocatingacarrier rod of a flat knitting machine comprising a reciprocable drive rod, a multiplicity of drive blocks-"loosely ed-on said drive rod, a carrier rod finger block etween said drive blocks slidable on said drive rod and connected to said carrier rod, resilient means for normally urging said drive blocks toward said finger block, means for locking one of said drive blocks to said drive rod duringthe reciprocation of said drive rod in one direction, and means for locking the other of said drive blocks to said drive rod during the reciprocation of said carrier rod in the other direction.

7. Mechanism for reciprocating a carrier rod a flat knitting machine according to claim 5 to be separated from when the drive block is -reciprocated in one direction for locking the leading block thereto, and means when said drive rod is reciprocated in the other direction for locking the then leading drive block thereto.

9. Carrier rod reciprocating mechanism for a mally locked to said drive rod during the following reciprocation slightly after the beginning of that reciprocation.

10. Mechanism for reciprocating a carrier rod of a fiat knitting machine over varying distances comprising a reciprocable drive rod having a mally urging said drive blocks toward said third block but permitting one or the other of said drive blocks to be moved away from said third block, means for locking one of said drive blocks to said drive rod during the reciprocation of the drive rod in one direction, means for locking the other of said drive blocks to said drive rod during the reciprocation of said drive rod in the other direction, means for arresting the reciprocation of the carrier rod before the corresponding reciprc'cation ofthe drive rod is completed, and means for unlocking the leading drive block from said drive 'rod slightly after the termination of the reciprocation of said carrier rod to permit said drive block to return toward said third block before the beginning of the next drive rod reciprocation in the opposite direction;

'll. Mechanism for reciprocating a carrier rod of 'a flat knitting machine over' varying distances comprising a reciprocable drive rod. having a fixed traverse, two blocks loosely mounted on'said drive rod, a third block loosely mounted on said drive block positioned between said drive blocks and connected to said carrier, rod, means normally urging said drive blocks toward said third block and for permitting one or the other of said drive blocks to be moved away from said third block, means for locking one of said drive blocks to said drive rod during the reciprocation of the drive rod in one direction, means for locking the other of said drive blocks to said drive rod during the reciprocation of said drive rod in the other direction, means for arresting the reciprocation of the carrier rod before the corresponding recipretarding the towards said third block.

12. Carrier rod reciprocating mechanism for a fiat knitting machine having a multiplicty of a drive rod comprising carrier operating means to said drive rod during the reciprocation of the drive rod in the other direction, a latch 14. Carrier rod reciprocating mechanism for a fiat knitting machine comprising a carrier rod driving head loosely mounted upon a reciprocable drive rod and connectible to a carrier rod, means on said head for connecting it to said drive rod so that it will be driven by said rod when said rod is traversed in one direction, means on said head for connecting it to said drive rod so that it will 5 be driven by said drive rod when said drive rod is traversed in the other direction, and means on said head for automatically moving each of said connecting means out of connecting position, said last mentioned means being operated by said 10 drive rod.

15. Carrier rod reciprocating mechanism for a 

